Bristol City lend out Duncan Idehen to former coach at Carlisle as Kalas steps up return

Bristol City centre-back Duncan Idehen has joined League Two outfit Carlisle United on a half-season loan deal.

He will ply his trade in the fourth tier of English football until January 2023, though could remain until the end of the campaign if both parties are happy.

Idehen did not feature in the Under-21’s 4-2 win over Hull City earlier in the week, paving way for a move to a new club.

The 20-year-old has 34 minutes of competitive action under his belt from the Robins after substitute appearances against Derby County and Huddersfield Town.

He had been a part of the senior team’s first-team pre-season, travelling out to Austria whilst playing in a number of fixtures.

Paul Simpson, who worked as an assistant coach to Dean Holden and later Nigel Pearson is in charge of the U’s and has now been lent one of City’s young stars.

Explaining his decision to sign him, Simpson said: "I was aware of him last season, but he’s not one I’ve worked with before. He came to Bristol after I’d left, but I knew about him and I’ve spoken to the staff who I was with and they’ve given him rave reviews.”

"Ideally we wanted a left-sided player and Duncan certainly fits that profile. I’m looking forward to getting him working with us and to getting him integrated into the group, and I’m sure he’s going to be another really good addition to our squad.

"He’s a good size, he loves defending and he has a bit of pace about him. He’s confident on the ball and I’m delighted that Bristol City have agreed to let him come to us."

From Simpson’s comments, a return from Tomas Kalas shouldn’t be too far away, based on what he said.

He added: “They’ve got players back from injury and a decent number of centre-backs, so he’s gone back to U23s down there.”

Kalas has been the only long-term absentee having not made a senior appearance since undergoing surgery but was at Ashton Gate on Tuesday, though wasn’t named in the match day squad.

For the time being, Zak Vyner, Kal Naismith and Rob Atkinson have all started with Timm Klose coming on as a substitute.

Cameron Pring can also be deployed as a centre-back but was played on the left-wing against Coventry, whilst Ryley Towler - linked with a move away - played for the Under-21’s against Hull this week.

He partnered the highly-rated Jamie Knight-Lebel, who has been noticed by the Canadian set-up who have called him up to their Under-20’s squad with City keen to sign him to a new deal.

City remain in the market for players and a right-sided centre-half is the priority for manager Nigel Pearson.